The Latest: Sackler spokesperson defends oversea transfers

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9:18 pm CDT, Friday, September 13, 2019

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2019, file photo, medications slated for destruction are shown in a locked storage area of the police department in Barberton, Ohio. The tentative settlement involving the opioid crisis and the maker of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, could mean that thousands of local governments will one day be paid back for some of the costs of responding to the epidemic. less

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2019, file photo, medications slated for destruction are shown in a locked storage area of the police department in Barberton, Ohio. The tentative settlement involving the opioid crisis ... more

Photo: Keith Srakocic, AP

Photo: Keith Srakocic, AP

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FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2019, file photo, medications slated for destruction are shown in a locked storage area of the police department in Barberton, Ohio. The tentative settlement involving the opioid crisis and the maker of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, could mean that thousands of local governments will one day be paid back for some of the costs of responding to the epidemic. less

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2019, file photo, medications slated for destruction are shown in a locked storage area of the police department in Barberton, Ohio. The tentative settlement involving the opioid crisis ... more

Photo: Keith Srakocic, AP

The Latest: Sackler spokesperson defends oversea transfers

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NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on Purdue Pharma's Swiss bank transfers (all times local):

10:15 p.m.

A spokesperson for Mortimer D.A. Sackler has defended $1 billion in previously unknown transfers from OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to his family, saying they were "perfectly legal and appropriate in every respect."

New York state's attorney general contends that the Sackler family, which owns OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, used the oversea bank accounts to conceal the transfer of millions of dollars from the company to themselves.

New York on Friday asked a judge to enforce subpoenas of companies, banks and advisers to Purdue and the Sackler family.

The spokesperson says the attorney general's contention is an attempt to "torpedo a mutually beneficial settlement that is supported by so many other states and would result in billions of dollars going to communities and individuals across the country that need help."

The spokesperson says the transfers occurred a decade ago.

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4:47 p.m.

New York state's attorney general contends that the family that owns OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma used Swiss bank accounts to conceal the transfer of millions of dollars from the company to themselves.

New York on Friday asked a judge to enforce subpoenas of companies, banks and advisers to Purdue and the Sackler family.

The state said it has already documented $1 billion in transfers between those parties.

The filing was made in a New York court. It follows decisions by that state and others to reject a tentative settlement announced this week with Stamford, Connecticut-based Purdue.